Bowling-alley.



No. 644,628. Patented Mar. 6, I900.

C. J. OLSON.

BBWLING ALLEY.

(Apphcatlon filed Tan 2 1900) -(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shae! l,

UNITED ST TES PATENT FFICFE.

CHARLES J. OLSON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSIVIOK- BALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BOWLING-ALLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,628, dated March 6, 1900.

Application filed January 2, 1900. Serial No. 54. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. OLsoN, of Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bowling-Alleys; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that genus or type of pin-spotters (or pin-setters) in which a pin carrier and depositor is employed that moves toward and away from the usual stationary pin-supporting pit end portion of the alleybed, into or onto which carrier the pins are put by the pit-boy when it is in its highest position and which when loaded with the whole set of pins lowers them down toward and depositing them exactly on their respective spots on the alley-bed then releases the pins and ascends to its highermost or normal position out of the way; and my invention has for its objects to provide for use a pinspotter of this type which while it shall be simple and economic of construction, strong, and durable may be easily manipulated or operated by the pit-boy and will always spot all the pins accurately.

To these ends and objects my invention consists in the novel structural features and combinations of devices going to make up the improved pin-spotter which I will now proceed to describe and which will be found most particularly pointed out in the claims of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, I have shown my invention carried out in that precise form in which I have so far made and used pin-spotters embodying it, though the construction may be more or less modified without changing the character of the hereinafter-claimed features thereof, and hence without departing from my said invention.

In the several figures I have in each denoted the same part of the contrivance by the same reference-sign, and in some of the views I have adopted a different scale from that on which others are madein order to more clearly illustrate certain details.

In the drawings, Figure l is a frontelevation of one of my improved pin-spotters combined with or properly arranged in connection with the pit end portion of an ordinary bowl ing-alley. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken in a plane indicated by the dotted line 0000 at Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in said last-mentioned figure. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in a plane indicated by the dotted line y y at Fig. 1 looking downwardly on the device. Fig. 4 is a detail or skeleton side view, on an enlarged scale, looking at the parts in the direction indicated by thehalf-arrow near the right-hand bottom corner of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section at the dotted line .2 z

of Fig. 3, made on the same scale as Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail skeleton side view of certain parts viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow at the right-hand side of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the pin-holders. Fig. Sis a top view of the same. Fig. 9 shows a modification of the switch de* vice for guiding the cam-rollers.

At P, Fig. 1, I have shown one of the pins (the head pin or No. 1 pin) of a set such as usually used and which the pin-spotter is employed to set up.

In the drawings, A is a portion of the bed or hallway, B B the ball-gutters, and C C the side buffers,of an ordinary bowling-alley of approved construction, with which is combinedone of my improved pin-spotters in a manner and constructed and operating as I will now proceed to explain.

As usual, that portion immediately over which is arranged or located the pin-spotting device or mechanism has marked on its surface the spots 8 on which the ten'pins are to be exactly placed for the game of tenpins, 0 and immediately in rear of the back end of said bed A is the depressed space d,designated the pit of the alley, into which the pins are knocked and the bowled balls received (alias well understood by those skilled 5 in the art) and the rear vertical wall of which is, as usual, composed of the ordinary swinging pendent cushion. (Not shown in the drawings.)

Mounted on top of and having their lower end portions securely fastened to the side buffers C C are two vertically and oppositely arranged posts or uprights44, which have their upper ends securely connected by a crosspiece or tie-beam 5, and the framework thus :05 formed of the two vertical parts i 4 and the top cross-piece 5 thus mounted fast on the side buifers constitutes the support for and part of the whole working mechanism of the pin-spotter.

Intermediately of the uprights 4t 4 is located an H-shaped carriage-frame 2, composed, as shown, of two vertical and one horizontal portion, (made in the case shown integral and of wood, of which material most all the other parts of the pin-setter are composed,) the two vertical parts being fitted or adapted by means of laterally-projectinglugs e to engage with vertical grooves in the said uprights 4t 4, as and for a purpose which will be presently explained. To the lower ends of the vertical pieces or lugs of the H-shaped sliding frame 2 is securely fastened,by means of a bolt f at each side (see Fig. 5) and two metallic braces g 9, (see Fig. 2,) the pin carrying and depositing frame. This pin carrier and depositor is composed, as shown, of two side bars or beams 1 1 (running parallel with each other at opposite sides of the pin-setter device) and two cross-bars h h, all rigidly framed together in the same horizontal plane, and immediately on top of the frame are located a series of sets or pairs of laterally-movable bars a b, a b, a 12 and at 11 running parallel with the cross-bars h 71, of said frame and forming the pin-carriers proper, operating as I will now explain. Each of the side beams 1 has formed in its upper side or surface two parallel recesses, each running the whole length of the beam, and in each of said recesses or grooves is a sliding strip or bar, so that there are two of such slides in each groove-beam 1,as shown, respectively, (see Fig. 1,) at ij and 1'']. The sliding bars a, a,a and a are made fast at one set of their ends (by wood-screws m or otherwise) to the slidej and at their opposite ends to the slide j, while, as shown, the bars I), I2, I2 and b are fastened in like manner, respectively, at their opposite ends to the slides iand i. The four sets of movable bars a b, &c., have arranged at their under sides and pivotal] y connected with them, as shown, (see Fig. 3,) two metallic brace rods or bars for the purpose merely of lending strength and stability to the entire set of said bars at the vicinity of the middle part of the pin-setting device, and in the adjacent edges of each pair of bars a I), &c., are nearly semicircular cut-outs I, forming socket-like apertures or bottomless receptacles, each adapted to receive and properly hold one pin for placement on the bed,.

as illustrated at P, Fig. 1. One set or pair of the movable bars-viz. those lettered a Z) is connected, as I will presently explain, to the mechanism by which the bars of all the sets are slightly spread fartherapart when the pin-carrier frame is down, as seen at Fig. 1, and are moved closer together when said frame is in its highermost position, and the entire frame, with the H-shaped frame 2, to which it is fastened, is adapted to descend when filled with the pins and assisted some by the pit-boy and to be elevated when empty by a weight 9, pendent to cords or other flexible connections G, (see Fig. 1,) which, as seen, are fastened at E to the carriage-like frame 2.

To each one of the leg-like portions of frame 2 are securely fastened two (one on each side) laterally-projecting metallic stands 7 7, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) in which are pivotallymounted (at or about their middle portions) a pair of lever-bars 6 G, which at their lower ends are coupled to one pair of the pin-carrier bars ab, while at their upper ends they are provided with antifriction-rollers that run in camgrooves formed in the inner faces of the uprights 4 of the machine. As this mechanism is duplicated at either side of the machine, I will describe it as shown at one side-via, that side shown at Fig. 2 and at the righthand portion of Fig. 1.

As most clearly seen at Fig. 2, in the lower.

wider portion of the post are made two long narrow recesses t 1, each having a comparatively-short narrower part at the upper part and a long wider portion thence downwardly, which wider portion is subdivided centrally by a metallic partition-like bar or thin strip 10, so as to form practically two recesses or oblong depressions, which I have marked, respectively, 8 and 9. The lower end of each of these recesses is abruptly narrowed by the inclined side wall 11, that performs the function of a cam, while the surface above at 12 (where the wider portion of the recess is narrowed into the part where I have placed the letter i) in like manner has a cam action, as I will presently explain.

When the pin-carrier frame is in the elevated position shown in dotted lines at Fig. 2, the projecting antifriction-rollers u (see Fig. 6) are in those grooves marked 9, and if the said frame be caused to descend to the position shown in full lines at Fig. 2 these rollers will be acted upon by the cam-surfaces 11, so as to force the levers 6 6 from the position in which they appear in dotted lines to that shown in full lines, which by the spread ing apart of their lower ends effectuates a spreading apart of the slats or strips composing each pair (a b, &c., of the pin-carrier, because (see Figs. 4, 1, and 2) of these lower ends of 6 0' being flexibly connected, as shown, to the metallic lugs or narrow plates 7] and 10, that are respectively fastened to the ends of the strips a and b, and because when these strips are spread apart those of each other set must move likewise, all the strips being connected in the manner hereinbefore described with the longitudinally-sliding bars ij of the pin-frame.

WVhen the carrier-frame, with its laterallymovable slats spread apart, is elevated, the rollers a travel up in grooves 8 until they contact with the cam-surfaces 12, which force them farther apart, while they continue their upward travel until they get into the grooves at t, which effectuates a spreading apart of the upper ends of lovers 6 6 and consequently IIO a forcing nearer together (or into their normal position) of the pin-carrier strips of each pair by the closure of the lower ends of said levers.

The two dotted circles to u at Fig. 2 illustrate the positions to which the antifrict-ionrollers have to ascend to have the mechanism act as just explained, and by reference. now to the dotted-line bent-out positions of the upper end portions of the metallic devices 10 10 and to Fig. 6 of the drawings it will be understood that when each roller contacts in its ascent with the cam-surface 12 it bends the end ofdevice 10 into the position indicated by the dotted line at Fig. 2, the said device 10 being disconnected from the bottom of recess t from the point e upward (see Fig. 6) and being preferably cuttoweaken it at the proper portion and possessing sufficient spring or resilience when thus bent to fly back (when released from roller u) to its normal position, in which it serves to force the said roller in its descent to pass the other side of plate 10 and always descend in groove ,9. It is important to have the machine provided with this (or some other) means to insure this mode of operation, as otherwise when the pinsetter frame in its highermost position, loaded with a whole set of pins, should begin its. descent the tendency of the inserted pins to wedge apart the strips of each pair a b, &c., might cause the levers to spread apart at their lower ends and the rollers to follow down toward and into groove 8, thus letting the pins fall through their bottomless receptacles or else perhaps cause the rollers to catch on top of the dividing-partition between grooves 8 and 9.

The counterbalancing weight 9 is made (after a well-known fashion) with a series of removable parts, so that by removing and replacing one or more of the detachable parts it may have its gravity changed as circumstances may requireas, for instance, if the pin-setter is to be loaded with ten pins the weight must be heavier than when it may be used to carry and spot only three pins in playing cocked hat. In any case the gravity of weight 9 should be such that when the pin-carrier frame shall have received all the pins to be spotted the said loaded frame will slightly overbalance the weight and hence automatically descend.

I have made the H-shaped frame 2 with lugs e e at each side, which lugs alone engage with the central grooves L (see Fig. 2) of the posts 4, because of the liability (when the frame 2 and post 4 are made of wood) of the working parts to bind by reason of warpage out of shape were the vertical pieces of frame 2 fitted into the grooves L instead of said lugs. However, as to this and many other mere matters of detailthe construction shown may of course be varied.

In lieu of the means just above described and most particularly illustrated at Figs. 2 and 6 for insuring the descent of the roller 10 in the groove 9 and along down on the righthand side of the vertical partition 10 (see Fig. 2) I propose to employ, if desirable, the

means shown at Fig. 9, which consists, essentially, of a gravitating switch device pivoted at a and having its upwardly projecting blade or arm made as thin and light as practicable,while its pendent arm 0 is made heavier and recessed into the upper end portion of the partition d (which in this case is made of wood,)the construction shown being such that when the oscillatory metallic switch device b 0 shall have been turned on its pivot a into the dotted-line position by the upward movement of roller u over the cam-surface 12 and while said roller is above the upper end of blade I)? the said switch device will automatically turn into its normal position, (seen in full lines at Fig. 9,) in which 'its blade 5 will perform the same function that is per formed by the upper resilient end portion of the .metallic device 10. (Shown at Figs. 2 and 6.)

As in practice it is difficult to make and set up overor combine with the alley-bed the pin carrying and spotting frame so that all its pin-receptacles will be located exactly concentrically over all the spots 8 on said bed, I find it desirable, if not necessary, in making said pin-carrier to provide each of the clamping-slatsa b, 850., where each has the cut-out I, hereinbefore referred to,with anearly semicircular metallic socket-like device that is preferably adj ustably secured to said wooden slat, and this structural feature of the shown and described mechanism will be best understood by reference now to Figs. 7 and 8, in the former of which I have shown a pair of metallic devices combined with the cut-outs of a pair of slats in vertical central section (with part of a pin carried therein) and in the latter of which I have shown the same combination of parts in top view. In each view one of the metallic devices f is secured to each of the slats a and b, as shown, with its socket-like or pin-holding curved portion depending somewhat below the level of the under sides of said slats, said socket-like por- 'tions of the two devices forming a bottomless holder conforming in size and shape to the exterior belly portion of the pin P. (See Fig. 7.)

I prefer to make each of the cast-metal parts with perforations c c of a diameter considerably greater than that of the bolt 6- (see Fig. 7) by which the device is held in place, and by providing washers ff at both the headed and the nutted end of said bolt of ample size, as shown, I can adjust the casting f horizontally in any direction and to considerable extent in securing it (by means of the bolt 6 with its washers and nut) in place on the wooden slat. This capacity of adjustment in the attachable and removable metallic devices is of importance in effectuating the perfect placement of each of the socketlike devices so that they will all register with of construction.

In view of the foregoing explanations and the disclosures of the drawings a brief description will now suiiice to make plain the general operation of the machine.

The normal position of the pin carrier and depositor is the highermost one to which it is inevitably carried and at which it is held when empty by the weight 9, which in its lowermost position rests on a suitable stop or supportas, forinstance, at B, Fig. 1and in this normal position the slats of the several sets of bars a b, &c., are closed up or are in their nearest-together condition. When it is desired to spot a whole set of pins that have been bowled down, the pit-boy picks up the pins and deposits them in the socket-like bottomless receptacles I, and when all of them shall have been so deposited the carrier-frame, with its load of pins, automatically descends (if there be any failure to go down on account of some undue friction or binding in the working parts the pit-boy can, by pressing down on the cross-bar of frame 2, enforce its descent) until the bottom of all the pins contact with the surface of the alley-bed, when by pushing the frame down to its lowerm 0st limit of motion the descent of the antifriction-rollers it along on the cam-surfaces 11 (see Fig. 2) and into the position there illustrated will cause the bars of each pair of pin-carrying slats to be spread apart sufliciently to permit the ascent of the frame to its normal position, which ascent will of course immediately occur by reason of the weight 9, now relieved of the counteracting-weight of the spotted and released pins. The receptacles I of the pin-setter being located exactly overthat is, in the same imaginaryaxial line as that ofthe spots 8 (see Fig. 3) on the alley-bed, and these receptacles by reason of their socket-like shape (corresponding to the tapered lower portions of the pins) operating to center the pins, so to speak, thrown into or placed in them, it follows that the pins will always be exactly spotted. This is the great desideratum with the players, as without having all the pins properly spotted the expert player cannot make the count he should get by a given play or bowling of a ball, and so far as my knowledge goes no pin-setter prior to mine has been capable of perfect operation and at the same time of such simple construction, so durable, and so easy of manipulation as to be practically satisfactory to those who build and use machines for spotting the pins on a bowlingalley. In the event of only four or five pins being knocked down with two balls the pitboy may respot them by hand.

Having now so fully described the construction and operation of my improved machine that those skilled in the art can make and use pin-spotters embodying the same either in part or wholly, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. In a pin-spotter of the type shown and described, the combination, with a pin-carrying frame composed of sets of bars having socket-like, bottomless, receptacles for the pins and adapted to have its pairs of pin-carrying bars move laterally, to either hold, or release, the pins; means for elevating said pin-carrying frame; and means for causing it to move vertically, up and down, of levers, pivotally arranged, in pairs, at either side of the frame, with the lower ends of each pair coupled to the laterally-movable ends of one set of said bars; and groove-cams, with which the upper ends of said levers engage and which operate to oscillate said levers, to make them properly move the bars of said set all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a pin-spotter of the type shown, the combination with the vertically-movable pincarrier frame; and means for guiding it during its up-and-down movements, of the variable counterbalancing-weight; whereby the loaded frame will just overbalance the suspending-weight, with either a greater, or a less number of pins, accordingly as said weight is varied; substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a pin-spotter, of the type shown, the combination, with the vertically movable frames of the pin-carrier; and uprights adapted to be mounted on the side buffers of an alley, as specified, and to act as guides, or ways for said movable frames, of a suitable weight operating to lift said frames, after the spotting operation shall have been performed; the oscillatory levers each pivotally mounted on one of the said frames and having their lower ends connected with the laterally-movable slats of the pin-holder proper, as specified; and groove-cams, in the said uprights, with which the upper, rollered ends of said lever connect, and which operate the latter;

IIO

all in substantially the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. In a pin-spotter of the type shown, the combination, with the cam-groove, or cam-recess, of the upright 4, in which travels the roller of the lever 6, the partition 10; and an automatic switch device connected with the upper end of said partition and operating for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of November, 1809.

THAS. J. OLSON.

In presence of F. GOLDENBOGEN, J. EHRENPREIS. 

